Machine for weaving diamond mesh wire fencing and partition panels



Nov. 15, 1966 M J. CROUCH 3,285,292

MACHINE FOR WEAVING DIAMOND MESH WIRE FENCING AND PARTITION PANELS Filed Jan. '7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

MARSHALL J. CROUCH BY 19 Waf/wz 555W ATTORNEVS Nov. 15, 1966 M. J. CROUCH 3,235,292

MACHINE FOR WEAVING DIAMOND MESH WIRE FENCING AND PARTITION PANELS Filed Jan. 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 9

INVENTOR.

MARSHALL J CROUCH FIG. IO BY 15W 770%! f m A TTORNC V5 NOV. 15, 1966 c ouc 3,285,292

MACHINE FOR WEAVING DIA NG AND MOND MESH WIRE FENCI PARTITION PANELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 7, 1964 FIG. i-

INVENTOR. MARSHALL J. CROUCH BY A TORNE Y5 Nov. 15, 1966 M. J. CROUCH MACHINE FOR WEAVING DIAMOND MESH WIRE FENCIN AND PARTITION PANELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 7, 1964 INVENTOR. MARSHALL J CRoucH ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,285,292 MACHINE FOR WEAVING DIAMOND MESH WIRE FENCING AND PARTITION PANELS Marshall J. Crouch, 353 Crestlake Drive, San Francisco, Calif. Filed Jan. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 336,283 4 Claims. (Cl. 140-9) This invention relates to a machine for weaving diamond mesh wire panels, fencing and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a machine that is adapted to weave diamond mesh wire panels more efficiently and faster than heretofore.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rugged, reliable, and economically manufactured machine for weaving diamond mesh wire panels and the like, and which machine is simple to operate and to maintain.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for automatically weaving diamond mesh wire panels with absolute accuracy and which machine is more economical to make and to maintain than heretofore.

The term diamond mesh is used to describe the woven material, such as a fence or panel, in which each mesh opening has four sides of equal length with the sides extending diagonally relative to the length and width of the panel, which distinguishes it from square mesh material, in which the adjoining sides of each mesh opening are at right angle to each other and each pair of adjoining sides respectively extend parallel to the length of the panel and to the width.

Heretofore most diamond mesh wire panels, fences, or the like, which may generally be called fabric, have been hand woven, although various attempts have been made to weave the fabric by machine. In some machines disclosed in the prior art, the free end portions of pairs of alternate warp strands have been spread apart by shed-forming members for insertion of weft strands to be held in position upon release of the spread strands, and means has been disclosed to move the weft strands transversely thereof toward the previously woven fabric. Also, means has heretofore been disclosed for moving the fabric in the plane thereof a predetermined distance after the new weft wires .have been inserted.

In most of the above instances of which I am aware, the machines have been objectionable, either because their structure has been such that the relative movement between parts has resulted in a faulty weave, or else the design used has resulted in detrimental wear of parts, and the complexity of the structure has resulted in objectionably high cost of operation and maintenance. Also, the performance of the machine has been erratic insofar as accuracy in the weaving steps is concerned.

At the present time, the most commonly used material is gauge wire, which is relatively heavy, and it is important to the proper production of the fabric or the like. to avoid permanent springing of the free end portions of the warp strands in forming the sheds.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a diamond mesh Weaving machine that rapidly produces a highly accurate diamond mesh panel with the minimum of complicated linkages, gears, and the like, and in which machine the manner in which the relative movements between the various parts are such as to insure against errors and excessive wear on either the parts of the machine or on the wire. Much of the wire used is galvanized. and it is important that it should not be injured.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure in which most of the movements are readily and simply controlled, and varied relatively, both as to the extent of such movements and their sequence, and in which structure means is provided for quickly and automatical- 3,285,292 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 1y feeding prekinked pairs of weft strands to positions within the sheds formed by shed-forming machines.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a machine for weaving diamond mesh wire fabric, which machine is substantially fluid pressure activated throughout, and is adapted to automatically weave the fabric, including the insertion of the pair of angularly disposed weft wires along the trailing edge of the fabric as the fabric is moved in one direction with the woven portion leading.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of improved feeding means in a machine for weaving diamond mesh wire fabric for positioning each pair of weft wires in the fabric, from positions in which they are outside the latter.

Other objects and advantages than those hereinabove expressed, will appear in the description and in the drawmgs.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a somewhat simplified top plan view of the weaving machine showing a section of the woven diamond mesh wire panel and the end of the panel where the weaving step is performed. Parts of the machine are broken in length to accommodate the sheet, and the wires are diagrammatically illustrated by single lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 showing a pair of shed forming members.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view along line 33 of FIG. 1 showing the means for moving the woven panel between each shed-forming operation. The wire or fabric is omitted from this view, for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the machine showing the wire bending elements in a position in which the free ends of the warp wires are sprung apart and the newly added length of wire, or weft wire, is being drawn into position for becoming part of the panel or fabric.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4 showing several shed-forming members in shed-forming relation.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 2 showing the shed.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the machine that is shown in FIG. 5 with one end of an electro magnet therein in engagement with one end of a wire to be drawn through the shed that is formed by the shed-forming members.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the part that is illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view through an automatic feeder that is adapted to be positioned over a portion of the machine of FIG. 1 for automatically feedmg wires for weaving.

FIG. 11 is a schematic View of the control means for the fluid actuated parts.

In detail the machine illustrated comprises a stationary frame, all parts of which may be generally designated 1, and which frame includes supporting legs 2 and a generally triangular portion (FIG. 1) that has a pair of equal length side frame members 3, 4 (FIG. 1) forming two adjacent sides of the frame. These frame members connect at one of their ends with a vertical post 5 (FIGS. 1, 6) and extend away from said post at a right angle to each other, while a pair of parallel, stationary rails 6 extend away from the outer ends of frame members 3, 4 that are opposite to post 5, but at a lower level for slidably supporting one end of a movable carriage, later described in greater detail.

A stationary cross frame member 7 (FIGS. 1, 3) is rigid with frame 1, being supported at its ends at points outwardly of the pair of rails 6 by a stationary triangular horizontal frame plate 11 (FIGS. 1, 3) that is spaced below the frame members 3, 4, and which plate 11 is supported on legs 2 and which plate 11 connects at its rear end with post 5. The side edges of plate 11 are parallel with the members 3, 4.

A horizontal carriage 9 (FIGS. 1, 3) is disposed over and spaced above plate 11, and is also in the form of a substantially triangular plate having side edges that are parallel with the side edges of stationary plate 11 that is therebelow, but which plate is smaller than plate 11.

Hereafter the words rear, rearwardly, forward, and forwardly will be used with reference to the direction of movement of the fabric panel of woven wire as it is woven. For example, the weaving step where the weft wires are inserted, occurs along and below the side frame members 3, 4- and the woven portion of the panel is the portion that is between the sides of frame members 3, 4 and outwardly of the machine in a direction that is parallel with a vertical plane bisecting the angle defined by the side edges of plates 9, 11 and frame members 3, 4, while the unwoven portion is always at the rear side of the machine or the side that is outwardly of the post '5 relative to the space between side frame members 3, 4. Hence the forward side of the post 5 would be at the side that is between frame members 3, 4. or within the angle between the lines Where the Weft wires are inserted.

Also, the reference hereafter to fluid pressure cylinders, or fluid actuated means, will be used instead of pneumatic or hydraulic pressure cylinders or pneumatically or hydraulically actuatedmeans, since the substitution of pneumatic for hydraulic means is basically merely a question of whether the fluid employed to actuate the pistons or plungers within the cylinders is elastic or not, and whether the fluid is exhausted to the air, after use, or is returned to a supply tank.

Carriage 9 is at the forward side of post 5 and is sup ported at its forward end on rails or guides 6 by means of laterally oppositely outward extensions 10 on carriage 9 (FIG. 1) that extend over said rails. These extensions and rails may have complementarily formed V-grooves and projections on their opposedly facing surfaces to in-' sure against lateral movement of the carriage 9 relative to rails 6 during reciprocable movement of the carriage 9 in a direction longitudinally of said rails.

A cross frame member 13 (FIGS. 1, 3) parallel with cross frame member 7 and vertical to post 5 is secured at its ends to frame members 3, 4. This member 13 is adjacent to the rear end of carriage 9 and the latter is suspended therefrom by a stationary pair of hangers 14 that extend through slots in carriage 9 and between stationary parallel guides on carriage 9. Rollers 16 (FIG. 3) or any other suitable means may be carried by the hangers below carriage 9 for supporting the rear end of the carriage for said horizontal reciprocable movement of the latter.

Referring to FIG. 1 it is seen that the diamond mesh fabric (FIG. 1) is formed of equal length wires of two rows, generally designated 17, 18 that cross each other in interwoven relation at a right angle to each other, and the wires of both rows extend across the medial, longitudinally extending line of the Wire mesh panel at an angle of forty-five degrees.

As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 the last wire 19 in row 17 and the last wire 20 cross each other forwardly of post 5 and one half of each wire is in interwoven relation with previously woven wires, While one half is free, and substantially all of the previously woven wires have free end portions of progressively reduced length equal to approximately the length of one side of each mesh opening to approximately the end of each side frame member 3, 4 (FIG. 1).

A pair of horizontally extending wire supports 23, 24 (FIGS. 1, 6) suitably supported on frame 1 and by legs extending to the floor, extend at a right angle to each other away from post 5, and these supports are respectively parallel with and alongside the free end portions 17, 18 of the last woven wires 19, 20. Support 23 is adapted to support a Wire while support 24 is adapted to support a wire 26, and which Wires are parallel with wires 19, 20. Supports 23, 24 are of relatively shallow V-shape in cross sectional contour, with the side 27 on each that is adjacent to the previously woven wires 19, 20

- being almost horizontal (FIG. 2) so that the portions of wires 25, 26 remaining on said supports 23, 24, after they are woven at one of their ends into the previously Woven part -of the panel, may be readily slid off said supports 23, 24 transversely thereof (FIG. 2). The opposite, or generally rear side of each support 23, 24 is substantially horizontal, as indicated at 28, and terminates in a vertical, upstanding portion 29. A supply of wires corresponding to wires 25, 26 may be supported on the platform or horizontal part 28 for being moved successively to the positions occupied by wires 25, 26 or the automatic feeder of FIG. 10 may be positioned over each support 23, 24 as will, later be described.

One of the supports 23, 24 is slightly lower than the other, so that the Wire thereon Will pass below the Wire on the other support (FIG. 6) when wires 25, 26 are simultaneously moved longitudinally thereof to woven position, as will later be explained.

Carried by a stationary part of frame 1 for vertical reciprocation and below and parallel with each of the frame members 3, 4 is a pair of vertically spaced bars 30, 31 (FIGS. 2, 5). Bars 30 are uppermost, and bars 31 are lowermost. Below each bar 30 and parallel therewith is a lower rigid frame member 34 (FIGS. 2, 4).

The free end portions of the wires of rows 17, 18 that project generally rearwardly and outwardly of the frame of the machine, are designated 35,.36 (FIGS. 1, 5), and these free end portions project between the pairs of bars 30, 31, and when the bars 30, 31 of each pair thereof are at their maximum positions apart, the free ends 35, 36 are generally in the same plane as woven portion 15. Thus, in order for the wires 25, 26 to be positioned in woven relation to free end portions 35, 36, the free end portions of wires of adjacent pairs must be sprung upwardly and downwardly as seen in FIG. 5, to form a shed.

The term woven is used to describe a relationship in which the parallel crossing wires of adjacent pairs extend over and under the parallel adjacent pairs of wires crossed thereby to form the fabric, and since both sets of wires are prekinked (FIG. 5) at the crossing points, the opposite sides of the resultant panel are exactly the same in appearance.

The pair of bars 30, 31 adjacent to each of the sides 3, 4 of the frame each have a horizontal row of horizontally spaced, vertically extending shed-forming members. The shed-forming members on each of the upper bars 30 project downwardly (FIG. 2) and are designated 37, while the shed-forming members on bars 31 project upwardly and are designated 38.

The bars 30, 31. are each slidably supported at their ends in vertically extending guides 39 on the stationary frame 1 for movement of said bars toward and away from each other, and when they are in their maximum spaced relation the adjacent ends of the shed-forming members 37, 38 are spaced apart and are also spaced above and below the free ends of wires 35, 36. Also the members 37 are in horizontally staggered relation relative to the members38 so that members 37 will enter the spaces between members 38 and vice versa when the bars 30, 31 are closest to each other (FIG. 4).

. members 37 are each formed with an inverted V-shaped notch in the plane of the row thereof while the upper ends of the upwardly projecting members 38 are formed with V-shaped notches. The apices of the notches in the members 37, 38 of each row are horizontally spaced apart exactly the correct distance between the pairs of alternate wires. By this arrangement upon movement of the bars 30, 31 from the position in FIG. 1 to the position in FIG. 4, the free end portions 35, 36 of pairs of alternate wires will be sprung upwardly and downwardly to form the shed for weft wires 25, 26 (FIG. 1, 6).

A horizontal bar 40 (FIG. 2) is parallel with and below each member 30 and below the free ends 35, 36 of the wires in rows 17, 18. These bars 40 are adjustably connected at their ends with the ends of bars 30 by means of vertical rods 41, so that the bars 30, 40 will move together as a unit. When bars 30 are at their maximum spacing above bars 31 the bars 40 will be at approximately the level of the woven portion of the panel, and the free end portions 35, 36 will be generally in the same plane as portion 15. When bars move down, the bars 40 will also move down to permit the downward springing of the free end portions of alternate wires, and upward movement of bars 30 will move bars 40 upwardly to effect locking of the last-inserted wires by sa d free end portions, and to also move said free end portions to substantially horizontal positions or to close the shed that had been formed.

Vertically disposed fluid pressure cylinders 44 are respectively supported stationary on frame members 3, 4 and their piston rods extend downwardly therefrom and are pivotally connected at 46 to the upper bars 30 (FIG. 5).

Similar cylinders 47 are respectively below the lower bars 31 and are carried by frame members 34. Their rods extend upwardly and are pivotally connected with lower bars 31. Frame members 3, 4 are shown in FIGS. 4, 5 as upwardly opening channels with short inverted channel sections 32 welded thereon, on which the cylinders 44 are secured, and frame members 34 are indicated as being inverted channel strips with short channel sections welded to sections 34 and carrying cylinders 47. The channel strips 3, 4 and 34 are apertured to pass the piston rods projecting from the cylinders and to guide them.

By the foregoing arrangement bars 30, 31 are reciprocably moved vertically between the position shown in FIG. 2 and the position shown in FIG. 4.

Adjacent to the forward sides of certain of the upper wire-engaging members 37, including the end members, are wire supports 48 (FIGS. 4, 5, 7), which supports are secured to the lower ends of depending arms 49 (FIGS. 5, 7), and arms 49 are secured at their upper ends to bars 30. Supports 48 are held by arms 49 in positions aligned with the wires 25, 26, when the shed-forming members are at the lowermost ends of their movement, and when in said positions the longitudinal axes of wires 25, 26 will extend between the upwardly and downwardly sprung free ends 35, 36 of the wires of rows '17, 18, or through the shed formed by said free ends.

Supports 48 are apertured to be aligned longitudinally of the rows of wire engaging members 37 with the apertures in axial alignment with wires 25, 26 when bars 30 are at their lowermost positions as seen in FIG. 5, and each member 48 is cut away at its forward side that faces away from members 37, so the wires, when moved into the apertures in members 48 may then be moved forwardly out of said members 48. These apertures in members 48 thus provide passageways for the wires, and for means for supporting the wires 25, 26 when the latter are being drawn therethrough, as will later be explained, and they are substantially greater in diameter than the diameters of said wires.

Adjacent to the outer divergent forward ends of the members 30 that are remote from post 5 are horizontally disposed, horizontally elongated fluid pressure cylinders 53, 54 that are substantially in axial alignment wit-h the members 48 when the latter are in the position shown in FIGS. 4, 5, except that one is slightly lower than the other by a distance at least slightly greater than the diameter of wires 25, 26. Each cylinder has a piston rod project ing from the end thereof that is adjacent to the outer end of each bar 30, and the projecting end of each rod carries a permanent bar magnet of substantially greater diameter than that of each wire 25, 26, and which magnet may readily and freely move through the aligned apertures in members 48 when the piston rods are moved outwardly relative to the cylinders 53, 54 under the influence of fluid under pressure in said cylinders.

By this structure the magnets are moved in one direction through the passageways formed by the apertures in members 48 into engagement with the ends of wires 25, 26 and thereafter upon reversal of the fluid pressure in cylinders 53, 54 the wires will be drawn to positions between the spread free ends 35, 36 of the wires in rows 17, 18, but to positions spaced farther from the preceding wires 19, 20 than the distance between the adjacent kinks in the wires of rows 17, 18.

Immediately upon the magnets 55, 56 completing their return strokes in which they draw the new wires through the sheds formed by the spread free ends 35, 36 (FIG. 5), a plurality of fingers 58 (FIGS. 2, 5) extending upwardly to points between certain wires 35, 36 and wire engaging members 48, will swing toward the previously positioned wires 19, 20 to move the newly positioned wires 25, 26 toward wires 19, 20 so the newly positioned wires will be at exactly the correct distance from wires 19, 20. Thereafter, when the shed-forming members 37, 38 move apart so as to release the spread end portions 35, 36 the latter will lock the newly positioned wires in place. Side slots 50 in supports 48 permit the newly positioned wires to be moved laterally out of said supports by fingers or arms 58.

Fingers 58 are in two rows, one row being adjacent to and below each of the frame members 3, 4 and the lower ends of said fingers secured to horizontal shafts 59 (FIG. 8) that, in turn, are secured to legs 2 or to any other suitable stationary part of frame 1.

The plunger rods 64 extending from fluid pressure cylinders 65 (FIG. 5) are pivotally connected to each of the lugs 60 (FIG. 8), and the ends of said cylinders opposite to rods 64 are each pivotally connected at 66 (FIG. 5) to a stationary part 67 of the frame 1, which latter part in this instance may be the stationary plate 11. Thus it is that the shaft 59 is adapted to rock about the axis of stick shafts 61 to swing fingers 58 to and from dotted line positions 58 (FIG. 5) said position 58' being the one in which the last threaded wires 25, 26 are correctly spaced from the. previously woven wires 19 and 20.

The plate 11, as has been explained, is positioned below carriage 9, the latter itself being a generally horizontal plate in the illustration (FIG. 1) and being normally spaced a substantial distance above plate 11 so that the woven wire 15 may be supported on plate 11 between the carriage 9 and said last mentioned plate (FIG. 5).

A plurality of spaced projections 69 (FIG, 3) are supported and guided in openings formed in carriage 9 for vertical reciprocable movement. These projections are positioned exactly over certain of the mesh openings in the woven wire 15. In the drawing three equally spaced projections are along the forward transversely extending edge of carriage 9 and one is adjacent to the rearwardly directed apex of the carriage.

Each of these projections has a horizontal cross sectional contour corresponding to the horizontal contour of the mesh opening therebelow, and the openings in carriage 9 have the same cross sectional contour to guide the projections 69 during downward movement of said projections into the mesh openings therebelow. These projections are preferably pyramidal at their lower ends to enter the neck openings, and plate 11 is formed with a slot for each projection extending longitudinally of the machine.

Each projection 69 is on the lower end of a vertically extending non-rotatable plunger rod 70 (FIG. 3) projecting downwardly from a fluid pressure cylinder 73 that is supported on a support 72 spaced above the carriage 9. The plungers in said cylinders are actuated under fluid pressure to move rods 70, and consequently the projections 69, upwardly and downwardly, and when moved downwardly said projections extend into the mesh opening therebelow and into the slot in plate 11 and when moved upwardly they are spaced above the woven wire on table or plate 11. Thus the panel cannot drift out of alignment, since the projections 69 will simultaneously frictionally fit in each mesh opening positioned therebelow.

Carried by cross frame member 7 (FIG. 1) are horizontally disposed fluid pressure cylinders 74 having their plunger rods 75 projecting rearwardly therefrom, and which rods pivotally connect at their rear ends with upstanding lugs rigid with carriage 9 along the forward edge of the latter. When the plungers or pistons within cylinders 74 areactuated for forward movement at the time when projections 69 extend through the mesh openings in the fabric on table 11, they have exactly the degree of forward movement necessary to move the woven wires, including the free end portions 35, 36, a distance equal to the diagonal dimension of one mesh opening, and when the projections 69 are elevated out of the mesh openings they are adapted to move rearwardly a distance equal to the diagonal dimension of one mesh opening.

Horizontally elongated frame members 78 are parallel with the longitudinal path of the woven panel 15 and are connected at their ends with cross frame members 7, 13. Carriage 9 carries a suitable valve 79 rigid therewith. The valve illustrated is a slide valve and includes a valve actuating member 80 (FIG. 3) projecting'from one end or the other of a cylinder for controlling the flow of fluid to the cylinders 73 (FIG. 11). The stationary frame member 78 alongside said valve carries spaced projections 81, 82 (FIGS. 1, 3) that are adapted to be alternately engaged by the projecting valve actuating member 80, for reversing the valve to eifect a reversal of flow of fluid to the cylinders 73, hence these projections may be called valve actuators.

FIG. 10 is merely illustrative of one of different unit feed devices adapted to feed the strands of wire onto each of the supports 23, 24, over which magazines, generally designated 85, are supported on the frames of the machine spaced above each support 23, 24 and extending longitudinally of the latter. Each magazine is adapted to hold a single row of horizontally disposed strands 25 or 26 therein, and adjacent to the bottom of the magazine, at several points therealong longitudinally of the latter, are upper and lower horizontally reciprocable strand release members 86, 87. A bracket 88 rigid with the magazine pivotally supports a generally upwardly extending arm 89 swinging about the pivot 90 that connects it with the bracket 88. The outer ends of said release members are pivotally connected with the arm 89 at points above and below pivot 90, and one end of said arm is pivotally connected with fluid pressure actuatable piston rod 91, the piston or plunger of which is reciprocable within a fluid pressure cylinder 92 that may be mounted on the magazine or on supports 23, 24.

In FIG. 10 the lowermost element 87 of each pair is shown in a position holding the strands or wires in the magazine, and upon one full reciprocation of elements 86, 87, the elements 87 will be withdrawn to release the lowermost strand for dropping onto each of the supports 23, 24 while the upper elements 86 will prevent the rest of the wires from dropping, and then the upper elements will be withdrawn from the magazine and the lower one will again he in the position shown in FIG. 10. Ohviously other suitable one-by-one feed devices may be employed.

FIG. 11 indicates the-actuating cylinderfor a pair of the strand-release devices for each magazine.

Also in FIG. 1 a pair of fluid pressure actuatable pushers generally designated 94, are indicated, each including a fluid pressure cylinder 96 extending longitudinally of each support 23, 24 with its piston rod 97 projecting toward the corner post 5, and a vertical pusher plate 98 is secured on the outer end of each rod 96.

The function of these pushers 94, 95 is to simultaneously push rods 25, 26 that are lying on supports 23, 24 to crossing relation of their adjacent ends (FIG. 6) where they will be engaged by the magnets. Thus there will be no interference between the magnetic fields of the magnets.

Referring to FIG. 11 which is a diagrammatic view of the system, conventional solenoid actuated four-way valves 100, 101, 102, 103 are indicated, which valves are connected in the usual manner with electrical solenoids 100', 101, 102', 103, and a conventional constant speed motor 107 drives a timer 108 that, in turn, includes switches (not shown in an electricalcircuit with the solenoids for actuating the latter in a predetermined order and at the desired time intervals for actuating the valves 100-403. The timer also controls the duration of time during which the solenoids are energized, which may differ. The timer is conventional, as is the wiring. The solenoids may be of the type in which the armatures are spring-returned when the coils are de-energized, and it is obvious that the valves will be responsive for movement in one direction under the influence of an electrically actu ated armature, and in the opposite direction under the influence of the return-spring, hence the circuit may be such as to require electrical actuation of certain of the armatures during the shortest period of time the valve is to be held in one position, should there be a substantial difference, and held by the spring for the longer duration.

It should also be noted that the cylinders are preferably double acting, and in an hydraulic system the exhaust line from each of the valves 100-103 may be connected with a line 110 (FIG. 11) that will return the liquid to the pressure tank 111 to maintain a source of liquid under pressure. If the system were pneumatic, the exhaust port from each valve could be vented to the atmosphere. In most instances hydraulic pressure is used.

Referring to the system (FIG. 11), at the start of an operation, the starter-fabric section 15 is in position within the angle between the lines that extend at a right angle to each other, and along which lines the weft wires are to be inserted. Before a wire spreading operation to form the sheds, it is desirable that the fabric holding members 69 be held in their down-position, in which they fit within mesh openings in the fabric therebelow. In this arrangement the valve.79 is in a position in which fluid pressure is provided for the upper end of each cylinder 73 through pressure lines 115 leading from the valve 79. A constant fluid pressure is maintained at valve 79 through a pressure line 116' that connects with a source of fluid pressure, and which line 116 is also connected with valves 100-103.

The carriage 9 in FIGS. 1 and 11 is in its rear position, in which position the rear valve actuator 81 has moved the valve member in valve 79 to a position in which the fluid pressure passes to the upper ends of cylinders 73. Also a pair of weft wires 25 have been deposited on the supports 23, 24.

The first step in weaving the fabric after the machine is in the position above described, is the step of spreading the free ends of the wires to insert the weft strands, and the solenoid 103 is actuated by the operation of timer 108 to move valve 103 to the position shown in FIG. 11 in which the fluid pressure from line 116 is transmitted through lines 117 (FIG. 11) to the upper ends of cylinders 44 and to the lower ends of cylinders 47 for causing the bars 30, 31 (FIG. 4) to move toward each other so the wire engaging elements 37, 38 will spread the free end por- 9 tions 35, 36 (FIG. of the wires or strands of rows 17, 18 to form the sheds.

The two weft wires 25, 26 that lie on the supports 23, 24, must now be inserted in the shed, and valve 100 will then be actuated to connect pressure line -116 with lines 118 and pressure from line 116 will be transmitted through lines 118 to the outer ends of cylinders 53 and 96, and immediately the pusher plates 98 will move the strands 25, 26 to the positions shown in FIG. 6 in which their adjacent ends are in crossing relation with the adjacent end portions extending past each other a substantial distance. At the same time the fluid pressure in cylinders 53, 54 (FIG. 1) will move the magnets 55 into engagement with the ends of the rods. The valve 100 will then be actuated to admit fluid pressure through lines 119 to the opposite ends of the cylinders 53, 54 and 96 to reverse the movement of the magnets and pushers, whereupon the wires 25, 26 will be drawn through the members 48 (FIGS. 6, 7) and through the sheds until their free outer ends are in line with the side edges of the fabric being woven (FIG. 1) and the pusher plates will be retracted.

As soon as the magnets have drawn the wires 25, 26 to their positions in the sheds and the pusher plates have been retracted, the valve 101 is actuated to connect the fluid pressure line 116 with lines 120 leading to the inner ends of cylinders 65 to swing each of the kicker arms or fingers 58 to the dot-dash position 58 (FIG. 5) thereby moving the newly inserted weft wires to the desired position between the opposed kinks in the portions 35, 36 adjacent to the previously inserted wires 19, 20. Pressure lines 120 also connect with the outer ends of cylinders 92 thus causing relative movement between the wire release members 86, 87 of the magazines to release one of the Wires at each magazine for falling onto each of the supports 23, 24 preparatory to being moved into the next sheds to be formed. Reversal of valve 101 will cause the pressure lines 120 to become discharge lines, and the lines 121 will now admit fluid under pressure to the outer ends of cylinders 65 and to the inner ends of cylinders 92, thus moving the arms 58 back to their full line positions shown in FIG. 5 and moving the wire dispensing members 86, 87 back to their full line positions shown in FIG. 10.

Substantially at the same time the valve 101 is reversed to move arms 58 and the wire dispensing members 86, 87 back to their full line positions, as shown in FIGS. 5,'10, the valve 102 will be actuated to connect fluid lines 124 (FIG. 11) with pressure line 116 to admit fluid under pressure to the inner ends of cylinders 74 thereby causing the carriage 9 to move forwardly, a distance substantially equal to the diagonal dimension of one mesh opening, thereby moving the fabric 15 forward by that distance, since the projections 69 are in the mesh openings.

Just preceding the moment that valve 102 is reversed to reverse the flow of fluid in cylinders 74 so that lines 125 will connect with pressure line 116 to move the carriage rearward to its starting position, the valve actuating member 80 of valve 79 will have been actuated by its engagement with valve actuator 82 to connect pressure line 126 with the lower ends of cylinders 73 for moving the projections 69 out of the mesh openings in the fabric so that the return of the carriage is unimpeded, but as soon as carriage 9 reaches its previous position, the valve actuator 81 will have been engaged, connecting the upper ends of cylinders 73 with pressure lines 115 to again move the projections 69 into the mesh openings therebelow.

The machine is now ready to repeat the cycle. It should be noted that the kicker arms 58 will function to disconnect the last inserted weft wires from the magnets, hence the retracted positions of the magnets will serve to align the outer free ends of the wires.

A feature of the present invention that has generally been ignored in the past relates both to the apparatus and to the method. It is important to the accuracy of the woven fabric that the wires, when sprung to form the sheds, should not be sprung beyond their elastic limit,

yet the angle of the shed should be such that the weft wires will readily be moved to the positions where they will be locked between the alternate pairs of wires and in the re-entrant angles formed by the kinks in said wires, when the tension on the wires is released. In the present instance the distance from the edge of the stationary table (FIG. 5) to the wire spreading members, is preferably quite close to six inches, at which distance No. 10 wires, or smaller, when spread to form the shed sufliciently to permit the weft wires to be moved to their desired positions, will not be sprung past their elastic limits. Even No. 8 wires will not be sprung past their elastic limits, but since almost the entire demand is for woven fabric of No. 10 wire, the machine is capable of supplying all requirements. However, in any event, the wires should not be bent beyond their elastic limits in forming the sheds. Thus, when the shed wires are released, they will spring back to locking relation with the weft wires and the fabric including the shed wires may be moved bodily free from detrimental engagement with the shed wires. The bar 40 mainly supports the shed wires against sagging when the latter are released.

As a step in a method, it is also important to note that the weft wires are drawn into positions within the sheds, instead of being pushed, except for the initial movement to insure one wire crossing the other so they will not interfere one with the other at the start of their movement, and they are guided from their leading ends. Their trailing ends are merely supported. Heretofore it has been the practice for the operator to progressively feed the weft wires, one at a time, longitudinally thereof from their trailing ends, which is relatively slow and diflicult since the leading end of each wire is unguided and unsupported, except from the trailing end thereof.

By offsetting the leading ends vertically, and pulling or drawing them from their leading ends, the pair of weft wires may be simultaneously moved into the sheds. Thus, in its broadest aspect, not only is means provided for simultaneously moving the angularly disposed weft wires longitudinally thereof into the sheds, but this means provides for accomplishing the method.

I claim:

1. In a machine for weaving diamond mesh wire fabric of the kind described in which shed-wires project from a prewoven portion of such fabric in a pair of rows extending along a pair of horizontally extending lines disposed at substantially a right angle to each other, within which angle said woven portion is positioned, and alternate pairs of which shed wires are adapted to be sprung oppositely from points along said lines for forming a pair of sheds extending parallel to said lines;

(a) a support for supporting said Woven portion in a substantially horizontal plane with said shed wires projecting substantially horizontally outwardly of said portion;

(b) shed-forming means respectively above and below said plane and said rows of shed wires supported for movement from inoperative positions spaced above and below said shed-wires toward and past each other to shed forming positions in engagement with alternate pairs of said shed-wires for springing said alternate pairs of shed wires oppositely to form said sheds and back to said inoperative positions;

(c) a pair of wire-engaging means respectively supported at different levels at the adjacent ends of the sheds adapted to be formed by said shed-forming means for simultaneous movement through said sheds into holding engagement with one of the ends of a pair of horizontally disposed weft wires adapted to be supported in positions projecting from the opposite ends of said .sheds and back to said adjacent ends of said sheds for drawing and weft wires into said sheds from one of their ends; and

((1) means for simultaneously so moving said wire engaging means;

(e) said support including stationary means on which said portion of said fabric is adapted to be supported for horizontal movement thereof in one direction in which said shed-wires are in trailing positions;

(f) fabric-engaging means supported for movement into mesh openings in said portion of said fabric when said portion is on said stationary means and during movement of said shed-forming means to said shed-forming positions and for movement to said inoperative positions after said weft wires have been drawn into said sheds by said wire-engaging means, and means supporting said fabric-engaging means for said movement;

(g) means connected with said fabric-engaging means for so moving the latter into and out of said mesh openings;

(h) means supporting said fabric-engaging means for horizontal movement in said one direction in which said shed-wires are in said trailing position when said fabric-engaging means are in said mesh openings and after said weft wires have been drawn into said sheds by said wire-engaging means, for thereby moving said shed-wires to position for forming sheds for an ad ditional pair of weft wires, and

(i) reciprocably movable fluid pressure actuatable means operatively connected with said fabric-engaging means for moving them horizontally in said one direction when in said mesh openings, and for moving them in the opposite direction when said fabricengaging means are in position out of said mesh openings.

2. In a machine for fabricating a strip of diamond mesh wire fabric, which strip has a pair of angularly extending rows of projecting shed wires at one end thereof substantially meeting at a right angle to each other and alternate pairs of which shed-wires are adapted to be sprung oppositely transversely of said rows to provide sheds for receiving a pair of weft wires;

(a) a frame including a support for supporting the aforesaid strip thereon in a substantially horizontal position thereon with said shed-wires in a predetermined position relative thereto and projecting therefrom;

(b) a pair of weft-wire supporting means extending from said support and respectively substantially in alignment with said rows from a point adjacent to the adjacent ends of said rows when said shed wires are in said predetermined position for supporting a pair of weft wires to be moved longitudinally thereof into said sheds when said shed-wires are sprung to form said sheds;

(c) one of said weft wire supporting means being slightly higher than the other at their adjacent ends of such pair of weft wires vertically offset relative to each other whereby such weft wires may be moved simultaneously longitudinally thereof, one above the other, into said sheds; (d) a pair of magnets supported for horizontal reciprocable movement through said sheds from the ends of said rows of shed-wires opposite to said weft wire supporting means to points adjacent to the adjacent ends of such pair of weft wires when the latter are on said weft wires supporting means and back again to draw said pair of weft wires into said sheds uponengagement of said magnets with said adjacent ends of said Weft wires.

3. In a machine as defined in claim 2:

(e) means adjacent to the ends of said weft wire supporting means that are opposite to their adjacent ends movable toward said adjacent ends and into engagement with weft Wires on said supporting means for moving said weft wires partially into sheds formed by said shed-wires and to positions in which the adjacent terminating ends of said weft wires are spaced from the point where the latter cross each other, whereby the fields of said magnets will be free from influence with each other upon engaging said terminating ends.

4. In a machine as defined in claim 2:

(e) a pair of rows of shed-forming means respectively supported on said frame in positions above and below said shed-wires when the latter are in said predetermined positions supported for movement toward each other and into engagement with alternate pairs of said shed wires for springing the latter oppositely to provide said sheds for receiving said weftwires;

(f) supporting means respectively supporting said rows of shed-forming means for said movement toward each other and movable with the latter;

(g) magnet supporting and guiding means carried by said supporting means for supporting and guiding said magnets and said weft wires during their movement through said sheds when said shed forming means are in shed forming positions forming said sheds.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 695,942 3/ 1902 McCallip 139127 1,186,474 6/1916 Garllus l407 1,282,171 10/1918 Barnes l407 1,891,912 12/1932 Bunnell 139-l27 2,022,741 12/1935 Ryan 139--130 2,647,542 8/1953 Purdy 139134 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR WEAVING DIAMOND MESH WIRE FABRIC OF THE KIND DESCRIBED IN WHICH SHED-WIRES PROJECT FROM A PREWOVEN PORTION OF SUCH FABRIC IN A PAIR OF ROWS EXTENDING ALONG A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING LINES DISPOSED AT SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE TO EACH OTHER, WITHIN WHICH ANGLE SAID WOVEN PORTION IS POSITIONED, AND ALTERNATE PAIRS OF WHICH SHED WIRES ARE ADAPTED TO BE SPRUNG OPPOSITELY FROM POINTS ALONG SAID LINES FOR FORMING A PAIR OPPOSITELY EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID LINES; (A) A SUPPORT FOR SUPPORTING SAID WOVEN PORTION IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE WITH SAID SHED WIRES PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID PORTION; (B) SHED-FORMING MEANS RESPECTIVLEY ABOVE AND BELOW SAID PLANE AND SAID ROWS OF SHED WIRES SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT FOR INOPERATIVE POSITIONS SPACED ABOVE AND BELOW SHED-WIRES TOWARD AND PAST EACH OTHER TO SHED FORMING POSITIONS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ALTERNATE PAIRS OF SHED-WIRES FOR SPRINGING SAID ALTERNATE PAIRS OF SHED WIRES OPPOSITELY TO FORM SAID SHEDS AND BACK TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITIONS; (C) A PAIR OF WIRE-ENGAGING MEANS RESPECTIVELY SUPPORTED AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AT THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE SHEDS ADAPTED TO BE FORMED BY SAID SHED-FORMING MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID SHEDS INTO HOLDING ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE ENDS OF A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WEFT WIRES ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED IN POSITIONS PROJECTING FROM THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SHEDS AND BACK TO SAID ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID SHEDS FOR DRAWING AND WEFT WIRES INTO SAID SHEDS FROM ONE OF THEIR ENDS; AND (D) MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SO MOVING SAID WIRE ENGAGING MEANS; (E) SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING STATIONARY MEANS ON WHICH SAID PORTION OF SAID FABRIC IS ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED FOR HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT THEREOF IN ONE DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID SHED-WIRES ARE IN TRAILING POSITIONS; (F) FABRIC-ENGAGING MEANS SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO MESH OPENINGS IN SAID PORTION OF SAID FABRIC WHEN SAID PORTION IS ON SAID STATIONARY MEANS SAID DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID SHED-FORMING MEANS TO SAID SHED-FORMING POSITIONS AND FOR MOVEMENT TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITIONS AFTER SAID WEFT WIRES HAVE BEEN DRAWN INTO SAID SHEDS BY SAID WIRE-ENGAGING MEANS, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID FABRIC-ENGAGING MEANS FOR SAID MOVEMENT; (G) MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID FABRIC-ENGAGING MEANS FOR SO MOVING THE LATTER INTO AND OUT OF SAID MESH OPENINGS; (H) MEANS SUPPORTING SAID FABRIC-ENGAGING MEANS FOR HORIZONTAL MOVMENT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID SHED-WIRES ARE IN SAID TRAILING POSITION WHEN SAID FABRIC-ENGAGING MEANS ARE IN SUCH MESH OPENINGS AND AFTER SAID WEFT WIRES HAVE BEEN DRAWN INTO SAID SHED BY SAID WIRE-ENGAGING MEANS, FOR WHEREBY THE MOVING SAID SHED-WIRES TO POSITION FOR FORMING SHEDS FOR AN ADDITIONAL PAIR OF WEFT WIRES, AND (I) RECIPROCABLY MOVABLE FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATABLE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID FABRIC-ENGAGING MEANS FOR MOVING THEM HORIZONTALLY IN SAID ONE DIRECTION WHEN SAID MESH OPENINGS, AND FOR MOVING THEM IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN SAID FABRICENGAGING MEANS ARE IN POSITION OUT OF SAID MESH OPENINGS. 